| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Octopus by Frank Norris: themselves. They challenged the eye. Pink became a royal red.
Blue rose into purple. Yellow flamed into orange. Orange glowed
golden and brilliant. The earth disappeared under great bands
and fields of resplendent colour. Then, at length, the moon
abruptly soared zenithward from out the veiling mist, passing
from one filmy haze to another. For a moment there was a gleam
of a golden light, and Vanamee, his eyes searching the shade at
the foot of the hill, felt his heart suddenly leap, and then hang
poised, refusing to beat. In that instant of passing light,
something had caught his eye. Something that moved, down there,
half in and half out of the shadow, at the hill's foot. It had
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Caesar's Commentaries in Latin by Julius Caesar: pugnarent, his deiectis et coacervatis cadaveribus qui superessent ut ex
tumulo tela in nostros coicerent et pila intercepta remitterent: ut non
nequiquam tantae virtutis homines iudicari deberet ausos esse transire
latissimum flumen, ascendere altissimas ripas, subire iniquissimum locum;
quae facilia ex difficillimis animi magnitudo redegerat.
Hoc proelio facto et prope ad internecionem gente ac nomine Nerviorum
redacto, maiores natu, quos una cum pueris mulieribusque in aestuaria ac
paludes coniectos dixeramus, hac pugna nuntiata, cum victoribus nihil
impeditum, victis nihil tutum arbitrarentur, omnium qui supererant
consensu legatos ad Caesarem miserunt seque ei dediderunt; et in
commemoranda civitatis calamitate ex DC ad tres senatores, ex hominum
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith: sentimental interview? I'm certain he scarce looked in my face the
whole time. Yet the fellow, but for his unaccountable bashfulness, is
pretty well too. He has good sense, but then so buried in his fears,
that it fatigues one more than ignorance. If I could teach him a
little confidence, it would be doing somebody that I know of a piece of
service. But who is that somebody?--That, faith, is a question I can
scarce answer. [Exit.]
Enter TONY and MISS NEVILLE, followed by MRS. HARDCASTLE and HASTINGS.
TONY. What do you follow me for, cousin Con? I wonder you're not
ashamed to be so very engaging.
MISS NEVILLE. I hope, cousin, one may speak to one's own relations,
She Stoops to Conquer |
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Emma by Jane Austen: For Miss ----------, read Miss Smith.
My first displays the wealth and pomp of kings,
Lords of the earth! their luxury and ease.
That is court.
Another view of man, my second brings;
Behold him there, the monarch of the seas!
That is ship;--plain as it can be.--Now for the cream.
But ah! united, (courtship, you know,) what reverse we have!
Man's boasted power and freedom, all are flown.
Lord of the earth and sea, he bends a slave,
And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone.
Emma |
